A Rough Guides tailor-made trip is designed around you, not around a fixed package.
Every journey is created from scratch by a local travel expert who lives and works in the destination, combining deep local knowledge with the editorial standards Rough Guides has built over more than 40 years. Instead of choosing a pre-set itinerary, you co-create a custom travel plan that matches your interests, pace, and budget.
On this page, you’ll find clear answers to the most common questions about tailor-made travel with Rough Guides. From how local experts work and how trips are personalized, to booking protection, payments, and flexibility, these FAQs explain exactly how our tailor-made service works and what you can expect when planning a custom trip with us.
For questions about our books, please visit our bookshop FAQ page.
Rough Guides Tailor-Made travel service
This section explains what tailor-made travel with Rough Guides means, how local experts work, and how custom itineraries are designed from scratch around your interests, pace, and budget.
What is a tailor-made trip with Rough Guides?
A Rough Guides tailor-made trip is a fully customized journey designed from scratch by a local travel expert.
Instead of choosing a fixed package or group tour, you co-create a personalized itinerary based on your interests, pace, budget, and travel style. You decide the dates, accommodation level, and experiences, while your local expert plans the route, books services, and manages logistics.It combines the freedom of independent travel with the reassurance of professional planning and local support.
Start your custom itinerary here.
How is a tailor-made trip different from a package tour?
A tailor-made trip is built specifically for you, not adapted from an existing package.
Unlike group tours or pre-set itineraries, every element is flexible and designed around your preferences. You are not tied to fixed departure dates, standard hotels, or generic routes.
- A tailor-made trip typically includes:
- A custom itinerary created by a local expert
- Flexible pacing and activity choices
- Accommodation and transport matched to your preferences
- All pre-booked and organized by your local travel expert
Who designs my itinerary?
Your trip is designed by a local travel expert who lives and works in the destination.
These experts are not remote agents or generalists. They are on-the-ground specialists with first-hand knowledge of routes, seasons, accommodation quality, and local conditions. Their insight allows them to design trips that go beyond the typical tourist sights. As a platform, Rough Guides makes sure that all local travel experts work for licensed and registered local tour companies.
Who are the local travel experts?
Rough Guides works with vetted boutique travel agencies based in the destination itself.
Each local expert works for a licensed and registered local tour company, maintaining direct relationships with hotels, transportation companies and guides. All partners are selected based on quality, sustainability standards, their ability to deliver personalized travel rather than mass tourism as well as their language skills.
Trip styles & destinations
Here you’ll find information about the types of tailor-made trips available and the destinations where Rough Guides works with local experts to create personalised travel experiences worldwide.
What kind of trips can I book?
Rough Guides tailor-made trips cover a wide range of travel styles, depending on your destination.
Your itinerary can be as independent or as fully supported as you like, always designed around your preferences.
Common trip types, depending on your chosen destination, include:
- Cultural and nature-focused itineraries
- Multi-generation travel
- Honeymoons and romantic journeys
- Friends or private group tours
- Active trips such as trekking or cycling
- Self drive itineraries
- Private guided tours with a driver or guide
Make sure to browse Rough Guides trip types
Where can I travel with Rough Guides?
Rough Guides offers tailor-made travel in over 100 destinations worldwide.
Rough Guides network of experts is continuously growing and you can now find them on all continents: from North America to Antarctica, from Iceland to South Africa and from China to New Zealand - the world is your oyster with Rough Guides. Depending on your chosen destination, you might explore the country with a private guide and driver by your side or, in other countries, explore the area yourself in a rental car. Your local expert is always happy to suggest the best ways to explore the destination safely.
Planning, booking & payments
This section covers how the planning process works, how bookings are handled, and what to expect regarding payments, deposits, cancellations, and booking protection for tailor-made trips.
How to book your tailor-made trip
- Submit your enquiry: Fill out a simple [online form] with your destination, travel dates, budget, and interests. This acts as the "foundation" for your custom trip. Remember - the more you share in this form, the better your initial trip plan will be suited to your preferences.
- Receive your initial trip plan: Within minutes, you’ll receive an auto-generated, day-by-day itinerary based on your input. This gives you an immediate visual of what your trip could look like.
- Compare proposals from Local Experts: Rough Guides matches you with up to three vetted local experts in your destination. They will send you unique, professionally designed proposals so you can compare different creative approaches and price points.
- Collaborate and refine: Use Rough Guides’ secure platform to chat directly with your chosen expert. You can tweak the route, swap hotels, or add specific activities until the itinerary is exactly what you want.
- Secure your booking: Once you are 100% happy, you lock in your trip with a small deposit. Payments are handled through a secure payment gateway, providing you with credit card protection and a money-back guarantee, all backed by a registered and insured Swiss company.
- Travel with 24/7 support: Before you depart, you’ll receive all your travel documents. While on the ground, your local expert is available around the clock to handle any last-minute changes or unexpected needs.
How do payments and cancellations work?
Payments are handled through Rough Guides’ secure booking platform.
You usually pay a deposit to confirm your trip, with the remaining balance due before departure. Cancellation terms are clearly explained in your proposal and depend on the services booked by your local expert. Funds are held securely and released to your local tour company shortly before travel. Make sure to read our Booking Protection Policy.
Is my money safe when booking through Rough Guides?
Yes. Booking through Rough Guides adds an extra layer of financial protection.
Payments are processed via a secure platform, and you benefit from consumer protection and travel support that you would not have when booking directly with a small local agency. Rough Guides handles payment security, while your expert focuses on delivering the trip.
Do you book international flights?
Rough Guides focuses on the in-destination experience.
Your local expert arranges accommodation, internal transport, guides, and activities. International flights are usually booked independently, allowing you flexibility with airlines, loyalty points, and routing. Your expert will advise on the best arrival and departure airports.
Personalisation & flexibility
Learn how Rough Guides tailor-made trips adapt to your preferences, including itinerary changes, accessibility needs, dietary requirements, and the level of flexibility available during planning.
Can my trip be adapted to dietary or mobility needs?
Yes. Every itinerary is built from a blank slate.
You can specify dietary requirements, mobility considerations, or physical activity levels during the planning stage. Because your expert works locally, they can verify hotels, transport, and restaurants in advance to ensure your needs are met.
Can I change my itinerary during planning?
Yes. You work directly with your local expert throughout the design process.
You can request revisions until the itinerary feels right. There are no additional fees for changes during the planning phase. Tailor-made travel means the trip adapts to you, not the other way around.
Rough Guides vs. other booking options
How is Rough Guides different from traditional agencies or online platforms?
Rough Guides combines local expertise with editorial oversight and booking protection.
Unlike traditional agencies or open platforms, Rough Guides curates both the experts and the experience.
| Feature | Traditional agency | Online platform | Rough Guides tailor-made |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trip design | Fixed packages | Semi-custom | Fully tailor-made |
| Local expert | Often remote | Varies | On-the-ground specialist |
| Flexibility | Low | Medium | High |
| Booking protection | Varies | Limited | Secure platform + support |
| Editorial oversight | No | No | 40+ years Rough Guides |
Can I trust Rough Guides for a tailor-made trip?
Yes. Rough Guides is trusted by travelers worldwide for professionally planned, tailor-made trips created by local experts.
Reviews consistently highlight the quality of on-the-ground specialists, clear communication during planning, and the added security of booking through a trusted travel brand.
Travelers most often mention:
- The expertise and responsiveness of local travel experts
- Clear expectations and transparent planning
- Feeling secure before and during their trip
You can visit our reviews page or check out our Trustpilot reviews
Contact & support
Who can I contact if I have questions?
Before departure, the Rough Guides travel support team can help with planning or booking questions. You can reach them at trips [@] roughguides.com.
During your trip, you receive a direct emergency contact for your local expert, providing on-the-ground assistance whenever needed.